June 2, 2009

Positive Frisco, Texas, Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Transmitting HIV

An HIV-positive Frisco, Texas, man who was arrested two years ago for transmitting HIV to at least six female sexual partners was handed five 45-year prison sentences and one 25-year sentence after being found guilty of six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, The Dallas Morning News reports. The sentences, issued on Friday, May 29, will run concurrently.

According to the article, Philippe Padieu, a 53-year-old martial arts instructor, will not be eligible for parole for 22 and a half years.

Padieu’s attorney, Bennie House, called the sentence “better than life [in prison].” But House contended that his client should not have been prosecuted in the first place because Texas does not have an HIV law criminalizing the intentional transmission of the virus.

Furthermore, House argued, prosecuting Padieu for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon “absolutely opens the door for any [sexually transmitted infection] prosecution” or for other diseases such as swine flu.

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Previous Comments:

Steve, Dallas, 2009-07-01 14:25:53
Wow, what a silly sentencing. WHERE oh where is the responsibility drawn for these woman that more than willingly had unprotected sex with this man. Apparantly some were even from the "swingers world" and were having sex with multiple partners. Similar to the "I'm a heavy smoker and I caught lung cancer so I'm gonna blame the cigarette maker crowd... Pathetic

Kirk, Dallas, 2009-06-06 04:31:46
This man should serve a lot of time for the crime but what about the women's role in that they did not insist on him using protection. I too am positive and I do not appreciate the guy that infected me, but I had a responsibility as well. I should have insisted on him wearing something and all of the responders who are positive should have as well. And these women are examples of what happens when we trust and not protect. Think about other sites that says, "I am ddf, you be too". Truth?

Ory, Denver, 2009-06-05 00:50:49
I was infected 25 years ago this month by a guy who was intentionally infecting people. We dated for a few months then he said I was too sexually irresponsible. He died a year after that and his roommate told me what he had been doing. I feel he got an appropriate punishment. Anyone who knowingly infects another person deserves to be punished. My guy just happened to get his punishment from up above rather than our courts.

Kenywi, Oakdale, 2009-06-04 16:21:14
I think he got less then he deservered. There are two many poz people out there spreading it intentionally. I was infected intentionally and I know of at least 3 others that were as well. And for that lawyer to say it opens the door for other std and illness's is insane. MOST other std's are cureable, and other illness's are transmitted at no deliberate intention from the infecteted person. What Padieu was deliberate, viscious and criminal.

Patrick, redding Ca, 2009-06-04 15:38:45
The other person consented to sex, NOT DEATH. Any HIV+ person that does not disclose their status are murderers.

scott sproat, , 2009-06-04 13:50:53
i am appauled at this!!!!!! people with AIDS have no privacy? no confidentiality? all you have to do when you have sex with someone is to use a condom-every time. then nobody is to blame. this is another death sentence for people with hiv and AIDS.

Greg H, Davenport, FL, 2009-06-04 13:13:49
What about the responsibility of the six women to protect themselves? Perhaps this is a good indicator regarding those that don’t perceive a risk for having unprotected sex. In spite of the poor economy, perhaps this is a red flag for putting HIV back in the media and educating the general public that if one is sexually active at all, one may contract HIV as well as a host of other nasty infections.

George, McKinney, 2009-06-04 10:34:02
I think it was a good decision/sentence. He knew he had AIDS, yet didnot tell his partners or use the proper precautions. God bless him, buthe should have been more considerate of his victims.

David, Palm bay, 2009-06-04 09:18:35
Well this may STOP those people who have unprotected sex and dont disclose there hiv status. So for those of you who are doing this please stop before you inect others and possably go to jail, this is also good because this is how and why HIV continues to grow, sure it is everyones responsability to protect them selves but lets face the facts that people that have hiv and do not disclose should go to jail....